Delayed hospital discharges: total pathway of care delays and total days delayed, April 2023 onwards
Contents
| Data values | Data description | Local health board | local authority of residence | Reason for delay | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Total | April 2025 |
| 3 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Housing Related Issues | October 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Care Home placement arrangements | April 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Total | January 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting funding decision FNC/CHC | October 2024 |
| 3 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Housing Related Issues | September 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Homeless | April 2025 |
| 2 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Care Home placement arrangements | December 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting Dementia Residential availability | May 2023 |
| 3 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Total | December 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Funding issues | August 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting funding decision FNC/CHC | August 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting Dementia Residential availability | May 2023 |
| 4 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Housing Related Issues | August 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Housing Related Issues | June 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Homeless | February 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Care Home placement arrangements | November 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Care Home placement arrangements | November 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting completion of arrangements prior to placement | December 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting NH availability | August 2024 |
| 3 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Total | July 2024 |
| 2 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Total | November 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Transfer related issues | August 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Funding issues | July 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Funding issues | May 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting funding decision FNC/CHC | July 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting start of new community care package funded by social care | September 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting NH availability | August 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting specialist bed availability | December 2024 |
| 2 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Housing Related Issues | July 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Housing Related Issues | December 2024 |
| 2 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Housing Related Issues | May 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Homeless | July 2024 |
| 2 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Homeless | October 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | No suitable abode - requires re housing | August 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | No suitable abode - requires re housing | November 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Care Home placement arrangements | July 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Care Home placement arrangements | October 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting completion of arrangements prior to placement | August 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting completion of arrangements prior to placement | November 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting RH availability | November 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting NH availability | July 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Total | November 2023 |
| 2 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Total | June 2024 |
| 5 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Total | September 2024 |
| 4 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Total | October 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting joint assessment | August 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Transfer related issues | September 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting hospital arranged transport | August 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Funding issues | June 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Funding issues | October 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Funding issues | January 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting funding decision | January 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting funding decision FNC/CHC | June 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting funding decision FNC/CHC | May 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Home care related issues | September 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Disagreements /Legislation | June 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Disagreements /Legislation | March 2025 |
| 2 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting Dementia Residential availability | June 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting Dementia Nursing availability | September 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Housing Related Issues | April 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Housing Related Issues | June 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting completion of assessment Nursing | June 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Housing Related Issues | November 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Housing Related Issues | February 2025 |
| 2 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Housing Related Issues | April 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Homeless | April 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Homeless | June 2024 |
| 3 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Homeless | August 2024 |
| 2 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Homeless | September 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Homeless | June 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | No suitable abode - requires re housing | July 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | No suitable abode - requires re housing | September 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | No suitable abode - requires re housing | October 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Care Home placement arrangements | January 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Care Home placement arrangements | June 2024 |
| 2 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Care Home placement arrangements | August 2024 |
| 2 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Care Home placement arrangements | September 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting Social worker allocation | August 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting completion of arrangements prior to placement | June 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting completion of arrangements prior to placement | September 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting completion of arrangements prior to placement | October 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting care home manager to visit, assess and provide outcome (Nursing) | April 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting RH availability | October 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting RH availability | January 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting NH availability | June 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting Social worker allocation | July 2023 |
| 2 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting Dementia Residential availability | June 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Total | January 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Total | March 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Assessment Issues | June 2025 |
| 6 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Total | August 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Assessment Issues | March 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Assessment Issues | September 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Assessment | June 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting joint assessment | June 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting joint assessment | September 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting joint assessment | March 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Wales | Other - LA not identifiable | Awaiting community based health team | September 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Other - LA not identifiable | Total | May 2025 |
Main information
- Most recent update
- 26 September 2025
- Next update expected
- 23 October 2025
- Designation
- Official statistics
- Data provider
- NHS Delivery Unit
- Data source
- Pathways of Care Delays
Data notes
Overview
- Summary of dataset and variables
The Pathway of Care Delays data identifies patients with a discharge delay, and the reason for the delay, at a given point each month.
A delayed discharge occurs when a patient who is clinically ready for discharge cannot leave hospital because the necessary ongoing care and support or suitable accommodation for them is not yet accessible.
The data represent the number of adults occupying an NHS hospital bed, who were 'clinically optimised' ready to return home or move on to the next stage of care, that experienced a delay in their transfer of more than 48 hours beyond the point they were clinically optimised. 'Next stage of care' refers to all destinations outside of NHS hospitals. Data for local health board provider, relates to the local health board where the service was being provided and where the delay was experienced. This will include data from patients who reside from areas outside of the local health boards usual coverage. E.g. a service could be provided in the Cardiff and Vale health board, but the patient may reside in Bridgend (which is usually covered by Cwm Taf Morgannwg).
- Data collection or calculation
Data are provided by Local Health Boards and validated jointly with Local Authority partners.
The Pathway of Care Delays is a snapshot census that identifies people with a discharge delay and reason at a given point each month. Health Boards are required to extract the data from local systems on a census day in each month, and validate the delays with Local Authority partners. Subsequently, data records are entered via a web-based tool and submitted to NHS Wales.
- Statistical quality
Data are provided by Local Health Boards and validated jointly with Local Authority partners.
The Pathway of Care Delays is a snapshot census that identifies people with a discharge delay and reason at a given point each month. Health Boards are required to extract the data from local systems on a census day in each month, and validate the delays with Local Authority partners. Subsequently, data records are entered via a web-based tool and submitted to NHS Wales.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Welsh Government suspended delayed transfers of care (DTOC) reporting requirements, along with many other datasets. The Welsh Government introduced the COVID-19 Discharge Requirements, which included an updated discharge process with increased focus on rehabilitation and reablement to improve patient flow and support better outcomes. From July 2020, delayed discharge data were collected as management information on a weekly basis. These data were not formally validated. Subsequently a formal replacement, Pathways of Care Delays (POCD) has been developed and tested to replace DTOC. This system has now been rolled out across all Local Health Boards & Local Authorities and the first fully validated and quality assured data are available from april 2023. Welsh Government discharge guidance (COVID-19 Discharge Requirements) sets out the default approach to hospital discharges – the Discharge to Recover then Assess (D2RA) pathways (or 'recovery pathways').
The D2RA approach is based on evidence of better outcomes for people who transfer as soon as possible to their usual residence or other suitable care setting for rehabilitation or reablement prior to assessments for longer term care. A D2RA pathway (or recovery pathway) could be in a person’s own home, in a community hospital or in an alternative step-down setting.
Published by
- Organisation
- Welsh Government
- Contact email
- stats.healthinfo@gov.wales